The Killer (soundtrack)

2023 film score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross

The Killer (Original Score)

Film score by

Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross

Released| November 10, 2023
Recorded| 2023
Genre| Film score
Length| 52:24
Label| The Null Corporation
Producer|

* Trent Reznor
* Atticus Ross

Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross chronology
| Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
(2023)  | The Killer
(2023)  | Challengers
(2024)

|
|

The Killer (Original Score) is the soundtrack to the 2023 film The Killer directed by David Fincher and features original music by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. The soundtrack was released through Reznor's The Null Corporation label on November 10, 2023, coinciding with its streaming release.[1][2]

## Background

[edit]

The Killer marked the duo's fifth consecutive collaboration with Fincher after The Social Network (2010), The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011), Gone Girl (2014) and Mank (2020),[3][4] whom signed the film in February 2023.[5][6] Besides the duo's score, the film includes music from the Smiths. The song "I Know It's Over" played in the trailer.[7][8] Fincher said he loved the idea of the Killer using it as a tool for "assuaging his anxiety", thinking this "funny and amusing".[9] He also said Smiths music has a "witty sardonic nature" and "it would be amusing that that would be our window into him".[10] Reznor and Ross' score released through the Null Corporation label coinciding with the streaming release on November 10, 2023.[11]

## Reception

[edit]

Tom Brehan of Stereogum said that The Killer's score shows them "in their comfort zone" as the score "is all hums and pulses and drones, with occasional shrieks of discordance. Their works makes it sound like some invisible machine is operating under the world’s surface, pushing people against each other violently. That fits the film’s whole message and aesthetic beautifully."[12] Brian Truitt of USA Today wrote "frequent Fincher collaborators Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross’ churning electronic score is symbolic of the main character’s roiling, stressed-out inner turmoil that belies his stoic exterior."[13] Justin Chang, in the Fresh Air talk show in National Public Radio said that "Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross' haunting electronic score surges in the background."[14] Mimi Anthikad Chibber of The Hindu, Dominic Griffin of Looper and David Robb of Slant Magazine called the score as "lush", "delightfully dissonant" and "throbbing".[15][16][17]

Rohan Naahar of The Indian Express described it as "mostly a collection of guttural rumblings in the name of music".[18] Uday Bhatia of Mint said "Atticus Ross and Trent Reznor supply what only they can, a score that’s sometimes like huskies in a wind tunnel and sometimes the most beautiful electronic wash you’ve ever heard."[19] Jonathan Romney of Screen International wrote "Fincher regulars Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross subtly ramp up the suspense with an electronic score that ranges from eerie ambient to minimal, ominously gurgling electronica."[20] Richard Whittaker of The Austin Chronicle said Reznor and Ross' score "barely music but more rhythmical pops, fizzes, and growls."[21]

## Track listing

[edit]

No.| Title| Length

|
|

1.| "The Killer"| 0:47
2.| "Fuck."| 5:14
3.| "The Hideout"| 2:20
4.| "Stick to the Plan"| 3:45
5.| "The Sunshine State"| 3:07
6.| "Consequences Are Automatic"| 4:57
7.| "Empathy Is Weakness"| 2:27
8.| "Never Hesitate"| 4:25
9.| "The Brute, Pt 1"| 1:33
10.| "The Brute, Pt 2"| 4:15
11.| "Intruder"| 4:25
12.| "The Expert"| 5:31
13.| "Gonna Have to Call You Back, Marvin"| 1:31
14.| "One of the Many"| 6:41
15.| "Trailer"| 1:26
Total length:| 52:24

## Charts

[edit]

Chart performance for The Killer (Original Score) Chart (2023)  | Peak
position

|

UK Soundtrack Albums (OCC)[22] | 15
UK Album Downloads (OCC)[23] | 40

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Zollars, Laura (November 10, 2023). "The Killer (Original Score) by Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross". nine inch nails. Archived from the original on November 11, 2023. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
2. ^ "The Killer (Original Score), by Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross". Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross. Bandcamp. Archived from the original on November 10, 2023. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
3. ^ Cohen, Jonathan (February 3, 2023). "Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross Scoring Next David Fincher Film, The Killer". Spin. Archived from the original on April 8, 2023. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
4. ^ Disalvo, Tom (February 3, 2023). "Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross to score David Fincher's upcoming film 'The Killer'". NME. Archived from the original on October 27, 2023. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
5. ^ Kreps, Daniel (February 3, 2023). "Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross Compose Score for David Fincher's Next Film 'The Killer'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on February 7, 2023. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
6. ^ Benitez-Eves, Tina (February 3, 2023). "Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross to Score Upcoming Netflix Film 'The Killer'". American Songwriter. Archived from the original on March 30, 2023. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
7. ^ "David Fincher Explains Why 'The Killer' Is Soundtracked By Smiths Songs". Stereogum. September 3, 2023. Archived from the original on September 5, 2023. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
8. ^ Pearis, Bill (September 3, 2023). "The Smiths soundtrack David Fincher's new film 'The Killer'". BrooklynVegan. Archived from the original on September 24, 2023. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
9. ^ Lattanzio, Ryan (September 3, 2023). "Why David Fincher Chose The Smiths for Michael Fassbender's Zen 'Meditation' Soundtrack in 'The Killer'". IndieWire. Archived from the original on November 7, 2023. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
10. ^ Shafer, Ellise (September 3, 2023). "David Fincher Wants 'The Killer' to Make Viewers 'Very Nervous About the Person Behind Them at Home Depot'". Variety. Archived from the original on September 7, 2023. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
11. ^ Jones, Abby (November 10, 2023). "Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross Share Soundtrack to David Fincher's The Killer: Stream". Consequence. Archived from the original on November 10, 2023. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
12. ^ "Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross Release Breathlessly Tense Soundtrack For David Fincher's 'The Killer': Stream". Stereogum. November 10, 2023. Archived from the original on November 11, 2023. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
13. ^ Truitt, Brian (November 9, 2023). "'The Killer' review: Michael Fassbender is a flawed hitman in David Fincher's fun Netflix film". USA Today. Archived from the original on November 10, 2023. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
14. ^ Chang, Justin (November 9, 2023). "What happens when a hit man misses his mark? 'The Killer' is about to find out". National Public Radio. Archived from the original on November 10, 2023. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
15. ^ Chhibber, Mini Anthikad (November 11, 2023). "'The Killer' film review: Michael Fassbender and David Fincher smash this quiet rampage of revenge out of the park". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on November 11, 2023. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
16. ^ Griffin, Dominic (November 7, 2023). "The Killer Review: The Perfect Crime". Looper. Archived from the original on November 9, 2023. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
17. ^ Robb, David (October 12, 2023). "'The Killer' Review: David Fincher's Funny Assassin Thriller". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on October 25, 2023. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
18. ^ Naahar, Rohan (November 10, 2023). "The Killer movie review: David Fincher's new Netflix film is more drudgerous than dangerous". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on November 10, 2023. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
19. ^ Bhatia, Uday (November 11, 2023). "'The Killer' review: Fincher in conversation with the assassin film—and himself". Mint. Archived from the original on November 11, 2023. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
20. ^ Romney, Jonathan (September 3, 2023). "'The Killer': Venice Review". Screen. Archived from the original on September 30, 2023. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
21. ^ Whittaker, Richard. "Movie Review: The Killer". The Austin Chronicle. Archived from the original on October 31, 2023. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
22. ^ "Official Soundtrack Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
23. ^ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 30, 2024.

* v
* t
* e

Soundtrack work by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross

* Reznor discography
* Ross discography

Reznor and Ross|

* The Social Network (2010)
* The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)
* Gone Girl (2014)
* Before the Flood (2016)
* Patriots Day (2017)
* The Black Ghiandola (2017)
* The Vietnam War (2017)
* Mid90s (2018)
* Bird Box (2019)
* Watchmen (2019)
* Waves (2019)
* Mank (2020)
* Soul (2020)
* Bones and All (2022)
* Empire of Light (2022)
* Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (2023)
* The Killer (2023)
* Challengers (2024)
* Queer (2025)
* The Gorge (2025)

Reznor only|

* Natural Born Killers (1994)
* Quake (1996)
* Lost Highway (1997)
* Call of Duty: Black Ops II (2012)

Ross only|

* Love & Mercy (2014)
* Fear the Walking Dead (2015)

Ross and
collaborators|

* Touching Evil (2004)
* The Book of Eli (2010)
* Broken City (2013)
* Blackhat (2015)
* Triple 9 (2016)
* Outcast (2016)
* The Defiant Ones (2017)
* Black Mirror: "Crocodile" (2017)
* Death Note (2017)
* A Million Little Pieces (2018)
* Earthquake Bird (2019)
* Dispatches from Elsewhere (2020)
* Dr. Death (2021)
* Shōgun (2024)

See also|

* Nine Inch Nails
* Ghosts I–IV
* Ghosts V
* Ghosts VI
* Tron: Ares
* discography
* How to Destroy Angels
* 12 Rounds
* Gustavo Santaolalla
* Mogwai
* Leopold Ross
* Bobby Krlic
* "Deep"
* The Crow (1994)
* Tetsuo: The Bullet Man (2009)
* The Fourth Estate (2018)
* If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power (2021)
* The Franchise (2024)

*[No.]: Number
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template